COLOUR THEORY
Colour
theory encompasses a multitude of definitions,
concepts and design applications. All the
information would fill several encyclopaedias. As an
introduction, here are a few basic concepts.
The Colour Wheel
A colour
circle, based on red, yellow and blue, is
traditional in the field of art. Sir Isaac Newton
developed the first circular diagram of colours in
1666. Since then scientists and artists have studied
and designed numerous variations of this concept.
Differences of opinion about the validity of one
format over another continue to provoke debate. In
reality, any colour circle or colour wheel which
presents a logically arranged sequence of pure hues
has merit.
PRIMARY
COLOURS
Red, yellow and blue
In
traditional colour theory, these are the 3 pigment colours
that can not be mixed or formed by any combination of
other colours. All other colours are derived from these 3
hues
SECONDARY COLOURS
Green, orange and purple
These are the colours formed
by mixing the primary colours.
TERTIARY
COLOURS
Yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple,
blue-green and yellow-green.
COLOUR
HARMONY
Harmony
can be defined as a pleasing arrangement of parts,
whether it be music, poetry, colour, or even an ice
cream sundae.
In visual experiences, harmony is something that is
pleasing to the eye. It engages the viewer and it
creates an inner sense of order, a balance in the
visual experience. When something is not harmonious,
it's either boring or chaotic. At one extreme is a
visual experience that is so bland that the viewer
is not engaged. The human brain will reject
under-stimulating information. At the other extreme
is a visual experience that is so overdone, so
chaotic that the viewer can't stand to look at it.
The human brain rejects what it can not organize,
what it can not understand. The visual task requires
that we present a logical structure. Colour harmony
delivers visual interest and a sense of order.
In summary, extreme unity leads to
under-stimulation, extreme complexity leads to
over-stimulation. Harmony is a dynamic equilibrium.
Some Formulas for Colour
Harmony
There
are many theories for harmony. The following
illustrations and descriptions present some basic
formulas .
A colour
scheme based on analogous colours
Analogous colours are any three colours which are side
by side on a 12 part colour wheel, such as
yellow-green, yellow, and yellow-orange. Usually one
of the three colours predominates.
A colour scheme based on complementary colours
Complementary colours are any two colours which are
directly opposite each other, such as red and green
and red-purple and yellow-green. In the illustration
above, there are several variations of yellow-green
in the leaves and several variations of red-purple
in the orchid. These opposing colours create maximum
contrast and maximum stability.
A color
scheme based on nature
Nature
provides a perfect departure point for colour
harmony. In the illustration above, red yellow and
green create a harmonious design, regardless of
whether this combination fits into a technical
formula for colour harmony.
